The Artic Area - New Possibilities and new challenges

The arctic area has been considered as a very remote area for many years, but more and more focus is given to this area, partly because unknown resources (oil and minerals) attract different stakeholders, but also because the global warming reduces the amount of ice in the arctic area. This opens up for the possibility to sail along the north east and the north west passage with commercial ships shortening the sailing distance considerably between Europe and Asia, reducing the energy demand for the sea transport between these two continents. Also more and more cruise ships operate in the Artic area around Greenland, which leads to more and more focus on safe navigation and rescue possibilities because of the possible risk for accidents with dramatic consequences, due to the lack of rescue facilities in the vicinity of these ships. The speakers will describe how some of these new challenges are/will be solved in the future.

16:00 – 16:10

Introductionby Hans Otto Kristensen, Head of Maritime DTU

16:10 – 17:00

An overview of opportunities and related challenges in the Arctic from the project Maritime Arctic Platformby Hanne Thomasen, Polar DTU.

The project Maritime Arctic Platform, MAP, has mapped the need of and opportunities for the maritime industry in the Arctic. It requires both planning, innovation, and skills to operate in the Arctic, and MAP suggests a platform for cooperation for the stakeholders from private companies, public authorities and research and educational organisations in order to enhance the competitiveness and competenciesof the companies within the Kingdom of Denmark.

The operation of ships is affected by a number of environmental influences such as tides, currents, waves and winds. In most oceans, there are regular currents that ships may be able to exploit for faster passage, taking advantage of ocean currents when they are along the planned route, and to avoiding the currents when they are in opposition.

The effects of dynamic currents have largely been neglected in routing optimization because, until recently, there has been no way to obtain reliable and timely estimates of dynamic current patterns. However, developments in satellite altimetry now offer the potential for providing accurate estimates of currents, wind speed, and wave height that can be used to improve ship routing. These data can be assimilated into an oceanographic model of current patterns or be used as direct estimates of current and wind velocities.

The Arctic is a region of particular interest for satellite altimetry due to the expected increase in maritime activity. At the same time general metocean data are less accurate, but safety requirements are higher

ArcticWeb is a joint effort to improve maritime safety in the Arctic region. ArcticWeb serves as a single point of access to safety related information, provides streamlined reporting and allows for voluntary coordinated voyage through sharing of positions and planned routes.

Today ArcticWeb Greenland provides Ice charts, wind/wave/current/icing forecasts and weather warnings, navigational warnings, satellite images and other data from a number of different providers, together with tools assisting and easing the work of the Mariners.

AECO is an international association for expedition cruise operators operating in the Arctic and others with interests in this industry. The association was founded in 2003 and has since become an important organization representing the concerns and views of arctic expedition cruise operators. AECO is dedicated to managing responsible, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the Arctic and strive to set the highest possible operating standards.

During the presentation AECO’s Danish Office Manager will give an update about Arctic Expedition Cruise Operations, including risks, guidelines, projects and strategies.